Grubbing machine



J 26, 1945- v R. o. COUCH GRUBBING MACHINE Filed March 18, 1944 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. ROYDEN O. CoucH June 26, 1945. R. 0. COUCHGRUBBING MACHINE Filed March 18, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 m m m m R wen O.Cou H Faienteci 26, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE .GBUBBING MACHINEl'toyi len o. Couch, Melbourne, Fla. Application March 18, 1944,. SerialNo. 527,109

5 Claims. (Cl. 97-2261) My invention relates to a grubbing machine whichis particularly useful on land covered with scrub growth, palmettoes,and similar growth.

In general, the object of my invention is to provide a machine thatwill, in a single operation, loosen and stir up the earth, take roots,etc., out

, of the ground, and leave the top soil on top and the ground level andready for planting.

In its preferred form, the machine includes a source of power and gearsand linkage whereby a series of arms, forming a digger rack, each arm ofwhich is preferably toothed, is forced downward into the ground and thenforward and upward, the teeth lifting the roots. etc., out of theground, whence they are deposited on a grating or conveyor and depositedor carried clear of. the machine. At the same time, the entire machineis moved forward by suitable means. r

Among the advantages attained by my machine are the thorough stirring upof the ground and the removal of roots, etc., therefrom while at thesame time leaving the top soil on top of the ground. The presentusualmethod of clearing land of the types mentioned aboveis by deep plowing;this has the disadvantages of turning the top soil under with the resultthat the soil has to be built up by cultivation before it is suitablefor growing crops; and of requiring removal of th roots from the soil bysubsequent operations. The use of a machine embodying my inventionminimizes or obviates the. necessity of such with vation and alsoreduces the labor required to remove the roots, etc. Other advantages ofmy invention will be readily apparent. from a reading of the followingspecification, to those familiar with the preparation, for planting, ofground of the kinds mentioned above.

Referring to the drawings- Figure 1 is a plan view of the preferred formof a grubbing machine embodying my invention; and i i Fig. 2 is a sideelevation thereof, certain parts being broken away to show the structureof the machine more clearly.

The numeral l indicates the frame of the machine, preferably' tubularand constructed of pipe. Suitably mounted thereon is a source of power2, such as a gasoline engine; the source of power is connected by aV-belt 3 or other suitable,

means to a wheelfi, mounted on the jack shaft 5. A pinion 6, carried bythe jack shaft, drives gear I, mounted on the shaft 8. Also mounted onthis shaft are two discs 9, in which the crank pins l are set near theperiphery. 'Journaled on each crank pin is a beam H, to the lower or ofwhich a link I! is journaled. The other end of each link I5 is pivotallyattached to one of the beams l l at a point l5 approximately midwaybetween the point of association of the latter with the crank pin andthe lower end of the digger rack. As will be readily understood, thefunction of the links I! is to limit and control the tangential motionof the beams ll. Thus the length of the links I5, the points at whichtheir ends are attached, and the length of the radius about 5 which thecrank pins revolve will together fix the instantaneous positions andthus determine the motion of the digger rack.

The digger rack, rigidly affixed to the beams l l as stated, ispreferably composed of a series of spaced, parallel arms l2,.and extendsacross substantially the entire width of the machine. constituting arack of di ging bars. Preferably each such bar or arm is provided, onits forward or leading edge, with a series of upstanding teeth I 3, ofthe general form clearly shown in Fig. 2.

The bottom of the rack, for some types of ground, may be provided with atransverse cutter-bar or cutting edge M. The bars of the digger rack areheld in position and stiffened by. suitable means,

such as cross-bars or tie-rods and spacers, as indicated at H and I8.

The means for disposing of the roots. etc., pulled out of the ground bythe digger rack, in-

clude free-swinging baffles I9. mounted on the cross-pipe 20 which iscarried by the side frames 43. Preferably, these baliles are made insections-four being the number shown in the drawattached. These platesmay be notched on their lower '01 rearward edges so that projections 41extend therefrom between the digger bars to about the depth of the teethI3 thereon. As the roots are brought upward and backward by the 45 teethon the digger rack arms, they pass under the swin ing baffles and areforced further backward with each stroke ofthe digger rack-theprojections 41 on the baffle plates assisting in freeing any roots.etc.. that may have become lodged in the teeth of the digger bars. Theroots are thus deposited on the grating 45, preferably composed of aseries of bars, which permits dirt and top soil carried with the rootsto drop through to the surface of the ground. In the construction shown,the bars of the grating slope comprise a gear 24 mounted on shaft 25,the gear 1 being driven by pinion 28, floating on the shaft l; -thepinion 2| is driven by shaft 8 through dental clutch 21 (provided withsuitable release mechanism, not shown). Cable drum II, also mounted onshaft 2|,is thus supplied with power when forward motion of the entiremachine is desired. A sheave 48 is preferably provided, over asvasso wwhich the cable 28 travels to or from the cable drum. The forward motionof the grubbing machine may be secured by attaching the end of the cableto a suitable anchor, such as a tree, or a tractor which can pull outthe cable and then stop and act as an anchor. I i

Steering of the machine may be accomplished in any suitable manner.shown in the drawings, the steering wheel "and the column ll control,through a worm gear or other suitable means, the link 32 which, in turn,

' controls, through the ball-and-socket joint 33,

the cross-bar 34 which is pivotally connected to the arms .35 rigidlyconnected to the columns 36. At the bottoms of the columns are mountedcoltersl'l through which steering of the machine is accomplished.

The rear of the machine is supported by rollers II and the front by theshoe 3| which preferably extends across the full width of the machine,with openings therein for the steering colters. As shown, the shoe ismade intwo sections, the upper one, 40, sloping rearwardly to dischargedirt falling thereon through the digger rack.

A baiile plate 4| is preferably mounted on the under side of the diggerrack. extending downwardly toward but Just clearing the grating 45 atall positions of the digger rack. This baille plate tends, on thebackward stroke of the digger rack, to force the roots back against themoldboard II and eventually off to the right-hand side of the machine.

In Fig. 2 the digger rack and swinging bafiles are shown in twopositions: near the bottom of the downward stroke in full lines, l2, I8,and fully retracted in broken lines/12', It. (The baffle plate 4| is notshown in the latter position 'of the digger rack.) The path of'ithepoint of the digger bars, when the machine is stationary, is indicatedby the dotted curve 42; this particular curve, of course, is applicableonly with the specific dimensions and arrangement shown in the drawings.

Preferably, the forward speed of the machine, in feet per minute, issuch, in relation'to the number of strokes of the digger rack perminute, that the points of the digger bars enter the ground, on eachstroke, back of the point where they emerged onthe previous stroke. way,comparatively little-power is required to force the digger rack into theground to the maximum depth. Of course, the dimensions of the variousparts. the extent of motion of the digger rack, the speed of travel ofthe machine, and other variable factors'are to be adjusted to suit theparticulartype of work which the machine is'to accomplish. Digging to adepth of inches,

In the arrangement In this with a space of 30 inches between thediggerrack, in its extreme upward position, and the cross-pipe II, is suitableforcertain types of Florida soil, such as palmetto-land.

It is believed that the operation of the machine will be clear from theforegoing description thereof. Normally, the only preparation of theground required before using my machine is to cut of! the tops of allgrowth over three feet high. The cable 2| is then drawn out and anchoredand the machine set in operation. The action should be completelyautomatic until the cable anchor is reached. The ground is thoroughlystirred and broken up and the roots drawn out of it by the teeth on thedigger bars, deposited on the grating, and eventually on the surface ofthe ground, where they can be conveniently disposed of. It is obviousthat, if

desired, a mechanical conveyor system can be embodied in the machineupon which the roots, etc., will be deposited by the digger rack andwhich in turn will deposit them in a truck'or other vehicle.

As the top soil is left on top and the ground left level, my inventionleaves the land ready for planting without the necessity of harrowing,raking, building up the soil by cultivation, etc.

It is of course to be understood that many modifications may be madeby'one skilled in the art in the details and arrangement of themechanism of the machine :herein described, the

- machine in the form shown, however, being the preferred embodiment ofmy invention. I desire protection for all modifications of the form ofmy invention shown and described herein that come within the scope ofthe appended claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A grubbing -machine comprising in coming a steady forward motion tothe machine;

and means for forcing the digger rack downwardly into the ground, thenin a forward direction, and then upward out of the ground.

r 2. A machine for stirring up the ground and removing roots therefrom,comprising in combination a frame; a source of power mounted thereon; adisc rotated thereby and carrying a crank pin; a digger rack compoud ofa plurality of spaced, parallel digger arms, each provided with a seriesof teeth on its'leading edge; a beam associating the digger rack withthe crank pin; a link pivoted at one end on said frame and pivotallyconnected at the other end to the beam; means for imparting a steadyforward motion to the machine; free-swinging baiiles normally locatedadjacent the leading edges of the digger arms; and a grating-locatedbehind the digger rack.

3. A grubbing machine comprising in combination a digger rack composedof a plurality, of spaced digger arms having upstanding teeth 10 pin torevolve.

said arm being pivotally connected, intermediate its ends, to a linkwhich is pivotally connected to a fixed point spaced from the point ofconnection to the digger arm; the leading edge of the portion of thedigger arm below the connection to the link being provided withupstanding teeth; a free-swinging bafile positioned adjacent the leadingedge of the digger arm; and a source of power for causing said crankROYDE'N O. COUCH.

